Langdon Man Faces Charges in Teen Sex Abuse Case
LANGDON, N.D. (northwestmnnow.com) — A 34-year-old Langdon man faces multiple criminal charges following allegations of sexual abuse involving a teenager.
Richard Edward Lopez was arrested October 6, 2026, following an investigation by the Cavalier County Sheriff’s Office.
According to court documents, Lopez faces charges including gross sexual imposition, corruption or solicitation of minors, sexual assault, and indecent exposure.
The allegations involve a teenager who lived in the same home as Lopez.
A judge declined to find probable cause for an additional charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child.
Mother Discovers Letter Describing Alleged Abuse
The investigation began after the teenager’s mother discovered a letter her daughter had written describing alleged abuse.
According to the criminal complaint, Lopez was living in the family’s home when the alleged incidents occurred.
The mother provided the letter to the Cavalier County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators later interviewed the teenager to gather additional information about the allegations.
The complaint describes incidents that allegedly began when the teenager was in eighth grade.
Authorities allege the abuse continued over an extended period before Lopez moved out of the residence.
Allegations Lead to Removal From Home
Court documents describe another alleged incident in late September 2026.
According to the complaint, the teenager reported the incident to her mother.
The mother then removed Lopez from the home, investigators said.
The reported incidents became part of the criminal investigation that led to his arrest.
Authorities have not publicly identified the teenager, and her identity is being withheld to protect her privacy.
Judge Declines to Support Most Serious Initial Charge
Prosecutors initially included continuous sexual abuse of a child among the allegations against Lopez.
However, a judge determined that probable cause had not been established for that charge.
The decision means that particular charge was not supported at the initial probable-cause review.
Other charges remained listed against Lopez in the criminal complaint.
A probable-cause determination is not a decision about guilt or innocence.
Lopez Arrested October 6
Lopez was taken into custody October 6 following the investigation.
As reported October 7, court records showed he was being held pending a bond hearing.
The court also issued a standard no-contact order preventing Lopez from contacting the teenager.
That order is intended to prevent contact while the criminal proceedings move forward.
The allegations were detailed in a report published by Valley News Live.
Cavalier County Court Case Continues
The case is being handled through Cavalier County District Court in Langdon.
Readers can review available case information through the North Dakota Courts Records Inquiry.
Additional court information is available through the Cavalier County District Court website.
The Cavalier County Sheriff’s Office provides information about local law enforcement services.
Lopez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
I’m David Keller reporting for Northwest MN Now News.
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